Greater than & Less than

Sometimes, we may be asked to compare numbers. We may need to determine whether a particular number is greater than or less than another number.

For more practice comparing numbers using the symbols (<, >, =), you could go to our Interactive Math Zone where you can generate worksheets according to your needs and get them marked online.

Using the Number Line

We could use a number line to help us. On a number line, a number to the right is always greater than a number that is to the left.

For example,

3 is greater than 1 because it is to the right of 1

–2 is greater than –4 because it is to the right of –4

Greater than & Less than symbols

The symbols used for greater than and less than are:

> means ‘greater than’

< means ‘less than’

Example:

10 > 6 (read as 10 is greater than 6)

– 3 < 1 ( read as –3 is less than 1 )

Example:

Write the relationship between each pair of numbers using the symbols ‘<’ or ‘>’.

a) –2, –5

b) 0.35, 0.4

c)

Solution:

a) –2 > –5

b) 0.35 < 0.4

c)

Take note that:

x < y is the same as y > x

For example:

10 > 8 is equivalent to 8 < 10

–2 < –1 is equivalent to –1 > –2

The following video explains more about greater than and less than using the number line and place values.

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